Switch actuator



Aug. 4, 1959 FIG. I

D. G. COLLINS SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed Aug. 5, 1957 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

2,898,423 I Patented Aug. 4, 1959 United dtates Patent Ofiice 2,898,423 SWITCH ACTUATOR Donald G. Collins, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Lear, Incorporated Application August 6, 1957, Serial No. 676,650

7 Claims. (Cl. 200109) set in that position and until an electric circuit or other.

device moved or had changed. Also, switches have also been designed for manual operation in one direction and spring return operation in an opposite direction immediately upon completion or release of the manual operation.

Each of these foregoing types of switches provided certain benefits but each lacked benefits obtained from the other type of switch. No one of the prior switches could be moved manually from an off to an on position againsta biasing spring tending to return it to the off position as well as being held in the on position by an electromagnetically controlled latch which could be manually overcome, if necessary, to return the switch to the oif" position.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a switch actuating device which is compact, simple in construction, novel, useful and which overcomes the heretofore mentioned problems and others.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch actuating mechanism which may be manually operated to move a switch from a first to a second position and which may immediately return the switch to the first position when manual operation is removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch actuating mechanism which may be manually operated to move a switch from a first to a second position and which may electromagnetically hold the switch in the second position as long as current flows in a circuit controlling the electromagnet.'

A further objectof the invention is to provide a switch actuating mechanism which may be manually operated to move a switch from a first to a second position and which may electromagnetically hold the switch in the second position as long as current flows in a circuit controlling the electromagnet and which may be manually operated to move the switch from the second to the first position even though current is flowing in the circuit by manually overcoming the electromagnet or a latch operated thereby.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the claims and description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view in cross-section of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 33 of Figure 2.

It is understood that the specific embodiment of the invention as herein described and illustrated represents one embodiment thereof for purposes of clarity and not for the purpose of limiting the invention to this specific embodiment. In the drawings there is illustrated a switch actuating mechanism for substantially simultaneously actuating individual and independent switches 10 and 11 spaced apart and supported by a common supporting structure or housing 12. The term switch as used herein is meant'to include control devices operated by pressing a button or the like and include air, gas or fluid valves or similar devices. Each of the switches 10 and 11 has a push button B movable axially and in opposite directions to turn its respective switch on or off with the buttons of the switches being aligned parallel to each other. For purposes of description, the actuating mechanism will be more fully described in connection with the switch 10, it being understood that it will actuate switch 11 similarly when switch 11 is mounted in the housing. The switches 10 and 11 may be in the form of micro switches or such similar switches as are commonly used in the industry.

The switch actuating mechanism comprises a first leaf spring 13 and a second leaf spring 14, a lever 20 and an electromagnetic or solenoid operated latch 27. The leaf springs have one end thereof fastened to the supporting structure or housing 12 with the opposite or free ends thereof converging toward each other. Specifically, the leaf spring 13 has one end 15 fastened to the supporting structure, and another or free end 16 converging toward adjacent free end 17 of spring 14 which is fastened at its other end 18 to the housing.

The lever 29 is pivotally mounted on housing 12 by a pivot 21 preferably extending through suitable elastic material capable of forming a dirt tight seal around the lever at its pivot support. The lever 20 has a handle 22 positioned externally of the housing and on one side of the pivot 21 for manual operation and a portion 23 on the other side of pivot 21 and internally of the housing 12 and terminating in a preferably curved or chamfered tip 24 for purposes as will hereinafter be described. The portion 23 extends through or past the first and second leaf springs 13 and 14 and carries suitable spring engageable members, such as for example roller 25 and pin 26, with the member 25 engaging the first leaf spring 13 and the member 26 engaging the second spring 14. The members, or roller and pin, or the like, are positioned between the leaf springs 13 and 14 which have spring properties capable of exerting forces on members 25 and 26 sufiicient to move handle 22 from the on position to the off position (Figure 1) or of springing ends 16 and 17 toward each other to move members 25 and 26 from between the ends 16 and 17 and toward the supporting ends 15 and 18.

The electromagnetic latching device 27 includes an electromagnet, coil or solenoid 28 mounted in the hous ing 12, a clapper 29 and a latch spring 30. The clapper 29 carries the latch spring 30 and in turn is pivotally supported on the solenoid 28 or housing 12 by a well known bracket and pivot pin 31 with the latch spring 30 extending generally transverse to the clapper and positioned in latchable relationship with the tip 24 of the lever 20. g

As is further illustrated in the drawings, the axes of pivots 21 and 31 are parallel with each other and spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the portion 23 and tip 24 of lever 20 and with the latch spring 30 positioned between pivot pin 31 and the tip 24.

The switch actuating mechanism operates as follows: Assume the handle 22 is in one of its positions, such for example as the olf" position illustrated in the dash-dot lines of Figure 2. At this time the leaf springs 13 and 14 have their free ends 16 and 17 in a converged position as also illustrated in dash-dot lines in Figure 2 and are relieved from pressing on members and 26 and switch button B. Pivotal movement manually of handle 22 to another of its positions, such for example, to the left to the on position causes member 25 and member 26 to separate the spring ends 16 and 17, thereby causing spring 13 to engage and move button B of switch 10. All parts are illustrated in solid when the handle 22 is in the on position for purposes of clarity. Releasing of the handle 22 results in the springs 13 and 14 urging their normally converging ends 16 and 17 toward each other, thereby immediately returning the handle to its off position and the withdrawal of spring 13 from button B, providing coil 28 has not been energized.

If, while the button B is depressed by the spring 13 when handle 22 is in the on position, the solenoid 28 is energized. The actuating mechanism will remain in its on position thereby holding button B in its pressed position. This results from the fact that energization of coil 28 immediately and magnetically pivots clapper 29 causing latch spring 30 to latch over tip 24 of the lever 20 to prevent the leaf springs 13 and 14 from returning the handle 22 to its off position. Thus the switch actuating mechanism and the switch 10 will remain in the on position as long as current is flowing in the coil 28, or until the handle 22 is manually moved to the off position by disengaging tip 24 from the latch spring 30.

Latch spring 30 is provided with an end portion 31 extending at an angle to the clapper and away from the pivot whereby if the solenoid is energized prior to moving lever 20 from the oif to the on position, the tip 24 may still be moved over end portion 31 and into latching engagement, if desired. Such movement of tip 24 over end portion 31 may pivot the clapper momentarily.

It is understood that the designated on and olf positions have been referred to for descriptive purposes and that they may represent other conditions or actually reverse conditions if switch 10 is of operation whereby pressing button B closes or opens or otherwise conditions a circuit.

When two switches 10 and 11 are to be simultaneously operated or actuated by a singleactuating mechanism, the lever 20 is preferably positioned between the two switches and has parts for operating switch 11 on the side of portion 23 opposite to the herein described parts for operating switch 10. It is noted that a common or single electromagnet 28 may be used with a single clapper and latch spring 30.

The individual parts of the switch actuating mechanism may be constructed from any material suitable for the purpose and electrical connections for the switches and the electromagnet or solenoid 28 may be suitably provided in any of the well known manners common to the industry, such, for example, as the terminals 32 mounted on the housing.

It is thus apparent that the herein described specific embodiment of the invention accomplishes the objects thereof and overcomes the problems and deficiencies of prior structures. It is understood that various modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be had without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A switch actuating mechanism for a switch having a push button, said mechanism comprising first and second leaf springs normally converging at one end thereof, supporting structure supporting the other ends of said springs and said switch with one of said springs engageable with the push button, a lever pivoted on said sup porting structure and having means engaging with said springs to separate the converging ends thereof upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction and thereby causing said one of said springs to press said button, a clapper pivotally mounted on said supporting structure, a latch spring on said clapper engageable with the end of said lever, and electrically energizable means capable of pivoting said clapper upon energization thereof and causing said latch spring to latch and hold said lever to hold the said one of said springs against the push button.

2. A switch actuating mechanism for a switch having a push button, said mechanism comprising first and second leaf springs normally converging at one end thereof, supporting structure supporting the other ends of said springs and said switch with one of said springs engageable with the push button, a lever pivoted on said supporting structure and having means engaging with said springs to separate the converging ends thereof upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction and thereby causing said one of said springs to press said button, a clapper pivotally mounted on said supporting structure, a latch spring on said clapper engageable with the end of said lever, and electrically energizable means capable of pivoting said clapper upon energization thereof and causing said latch spring to latch and hold said lever to hold the said one of said springs against the push button, said leaf springs having spring properties urging their converging ends toward each other and against said means on said lever to pivot said lever upon deenergization of said energizable means to permit movement of said one of said springs from said push button.

3. A switch actuating mechanism for a switch having a push button, said mechanism comprising first and second leaf springs normally converging at one end thereof, supporting structure supporting the other ends of said springs and said switch with one of said springs engageable with the push button, a lever pivoted on said supporting structure and having means between and engaging with said springs to separate the converging ends thereof upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction and thereby causing said one of said springs to press said button, a clapper pivotally mounted on said supporting structure with its pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of said lever, a latch spring on said clapper and extending somewhat transversely therefrom and engageable with the end of said lever, and electrically energizable means capable of pivoting said clapper upon energization thereof and causing said latch spring to latch and hold said lever against the clapper to hold the said one of said springs against the push button.

4. A switch actuating mechanism for a switch having a push button, said mechanism comprising first and second leaf springs normally converging at one end thereof, supporting structure supporting the other ends of said springs and said switch with one of said springs engageable with the push button, a lever pivoted on said supporting structure and having means between and engaging with said springs to separate the converging ends thereof upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction and thereby causing said one of said springs to press said button, a clapper pivotally mounted on said supporting structure with its pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of said lever, a latch spring on said clapper and extending somewhat transversely therefrom and engageable with the end of said lever, and electrically energizable means capable of pivoting said clapper upon energization thereof and causing said latch spring to latch and hold said lever against the clapper to hold the said one of said springs against the push button, said leaf springs having spring properties urging their converging ends toward each other and against said means on said lever to pivot said lever upon deenergization of said energizable means to permit movement of said one of said springs from said push button.

5. A switch actuating mechanism for a switch having a push button, said mechanism comprising first and second leaf springs normally converging at one end thereof, supporting structure supporting the other ends of said springs and said switch with one of said springs engageable with the push button, a lever pivoted on said supporting structure and having means between and engaging with said springs to separate the converging ends thereof upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction and thereby causing said one of said springs to press said button, an electrically energizable latch means capable upon energization thereof of latching and holding said lever to hold the said one of said springs against the push button.

6. A switch actuating mechanism for a switch having a push button, said mechanism comprising first and second leaf springs normally converging at one end thereof, supporting structure supporting the other ends of said springs and said switch with one of said springs engageable with the push button, a lever pivoted on said sup porting structure and having means between and engaging with said springs to separate the converging ends thereof upon pivotal movement of said lever in one direction and thereby causing said one of said springs to press said button, an electrically energizable latch means capable upon energization thereof of latching and holding said lever 6 to hold the said one of said springs against the push button, said leaf springs having spring properties urging their converging ends toward each other and against said means on said lever to pivot said lever upon de-energization of said energizable latch means to permit movement of said one of said springs from said push button.

7. A switch actuating device for a switch having a push button movable axially on a first axis, said device comprising first and second springs extending generally transversely of and through said first axis with one of said springs engageable with said push button, spring actuating means exerting pressure on both of said springs simultaneously and thereby urging said one of said springs against said push button to move the same axially, and electromagnetic latch means latchably engageable with said spring actuating means, said spring actuating means including a lever pivoted on a pivot axis transverse to said first axis, said electromagnetic means including a solenoid and spring latch means pivotable thereby with its pivot axis transverse to said first axis and parallel with said lever pivot axis and latchably engageable with said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,072 Blake et a1. Apr. 16, 1935 

